2015 Chevrolet Trax: Chevy’s Surprise Small SUV

by George Kennedy

@ BOLD RIDE 

 

Yesterday, about 25 journalists set out from NYC to Monticello Motorsport Club in upstate to test drive the all-new Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans and torrential rain grounded us. The weather gave us an interesting opportunity that we had not anticipated– seat time in the Trax– Chevy’s newest, littlest crossover.

If you spend time traveling in other countries, the Trax may be a familiar face. It has been sold in Canada and Mexico since 2012, and in Europe following that initial rollout. They have sold 90,000 Trax in 60 countries around the world. It makes its debut in the states at the New York International Auto Show, and we have already taken it out on the open road.

 (Ed. Interestingly enough, we were able to drive the Canadian version of the Trax, which differs only in grille design, the afternoon before the car was unveiled at private Chevrolet event. The photos you see here are from that event, because, well, I didn’t want to get wet)

GM is targeting the younger crowd, and positions the Trax as the big vehicle in its small car segment, which includes the Spark and Sonic. The Trax rides on the same platform as the Buick  Encore. I’m not in love with that car, but then again, I’m not an aging Boomer. The Trax is (apparently) geared towards buyers like me, and as evidenced by the equipment within.

Like the Sonic, the Trax does away with the CD player. GM knows almost all of its target demo uses their smartphone for music. In fact, the MyLink system actually uses a lot of your smartphone’s features, operated via the center touch screen. If you want to use navigation, you’ll be using your phones’s, and it also incorporated various other applications.

The 1.4-liter Ecotec engine makes 138 horsepower, which is decently managed by the 6-speed automatic, but could not seem to find the right gear going up a hill. On the other hand, it offers a manual shift mode that lets you take full advantage of the rev-happy engine.

All told, buyers will probably flock to this car. The Equinox seemed long in the tooth for most of its generation, but that did not stop folks from buying it in great numbers. The Trax is a far more advanced vehicle, with smart storage solutions and– most importantly– the technology that young buyers want.